Electronic identification tagging systems, methods, applicators, and tapes for tracking and managing medical equipment and other objects

Abstract

Electronic identification tagging systems, methods, applicators, and tapes for tracking and managing medical equipment and other objects are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes electronic identification tag readers distributed within predetermined areas of an environment. The system also includes electronic identification tags attached to respective medical equipment within the environment. Further, the system includes a computing device comprising an object use analyzer configured to receive, from the electronic identification tag readers, information indicating presence of the electronic identification tags within the predetermined areas. The object use analyzer also analyzes usage of the medical equipment within the environment based on the received information. Further, the object use analyzer manages one of medical equipment supply or usage of the medical equipment during a medical procedure based on the analyzed usage of the medical equipment.

1 . A system comprising:
 at least one electronic identification tag reader located within at least one predetermined area of an environment;   an electronic identification tag attached to an object within the environment; and   a computing device comprising an object use analyzer configured to:
 receive, from the electronic identification tag readers, information indicating presence and location of the electronic identification tag within the at least one predetermined area; and 
 analyze usage of the object within the environment based on the received information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic identification tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the object is one of medical equipment or a surgical instrument. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the environment is an operating room. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the object use analyzer determines a preference card based on the analysis of the usage of the object. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the object use analyzer is configured to determine a utilization metric for the object. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the utilization metric includes the number of times an object was used in a particular operation by a specific surgeon, a risk metric associated with supply of the object, and a cost metric for supply of the object. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the environment is an operating room environment,
 wherein the object is a surgical instrument, and   wherein the object use analyzer is configured to:
 determine an operational procedure or medical practitioner associated with use of the surgical instrument in the operating room; and 
 predict surgical instruments needed for a subsequent operational procedure based on the determined operational procedure or medical practitioner and the usage of the surgical instrument. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined area includes one of a surgical site, a surgical instrument tray, an operating room doorway, a sleeve of a medical practitioner, a Mayo stand, or a surgical back table. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the object use analyzer is configured to:
 store information that indicates an order and timing of use of the object during a medical procedure;   determine whether the object is being used in accordance with the order and timing; and   present, to a medical practitioner, information that indicates whether the object is being used in accordance with the order and timing.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the object use analyzer is configured to present, during a surgery of the same type and the same surgeon, the information to indicate progression of object usage. 
     
     
         12 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . Electronic identification tagging tape comprising:
 a strip of material having an adhesive surface; and   a plurality of electronic identification tags attached to the strip of material and having an antenna, wherein the electronic identification tags are positioned apart from each other along a length of the strip of material, and wherein the antenna has a predetermined impedance for matching an impedance of a surgical instrument.   
     
     
         31 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . An applicator for electronic identification tagging tape, the applicator comprising:
 a reel configured to hold electronic identification tagging tape having electronic identification tags positioned apart from each other and along a length of the tape; and   a tape advancer configured to advance an end of the tape a predetermined length from the reel such that a single electronic identification tag is unreeled for application to medical equipment.   
     
     
         47 . The applicator of  claim 46 , further comprising a computing device comprising an equipment recordation manager configured to:
 receive identification of medical equipment to which one of the electronic identification tags is applied; and   associate identification of the medical equipment with an identifier of the one of the electronic identification tags.   
     
     
         48 . The applicator of  claim 47 , wherein the computing device further comprises an image capture device for capturing an image of the medical equipment, and
 wherein the equipment recordation manager is configured to determine the identification of the medical equipment based on the captured image.   
     
     
         49 . The applicator of  claim 47 , wherein the computing device further comprises a user input for receipt of identification of the medical equipment. 
     
     
         50 . The applicator of  claim 47 , wherein the computing device further comprises a communication link between the computing device and an existing instrument database and pulls instrument identifiers from the database and pairs them with the tag identifier in a new database. 
     
     
         51 . The applicator of  claim 46 , further comprising a user trigger operatively connected with the tape advancer and configured to effect, by the tape advancer, advancement of the end of the tape the predetermined length. 
     
     
         52 . The applicator of claim  45 , further comprising a cutter configured to cut the tape at a space between neighboring electronic identification tags. 
     
     
         53 . The applicator of  claim 52 , wherein the tape advancer is configured to advance the tape such that the space is positioned for cutting by the cutter. 
     
     
         55 - 64 . (canceled)